Question
Is it safe to take TB medication with my ARVs?
14 December 2011. Related: All topics, Complications and coinfections, South Africa, Starting treatment, TB.
Hi. I am HIV positive and on ART for 10 months.
My viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is 180.
Last month I was suffering form breathing problems. Then I went to the doctor and and found fluid in my lungs. They removed that and now they prescribed me TB medicines along with ART.
My ART meds are: Tavin EM (tenofovir and emtricitabine) in the morning; Atazor R (atazanavir and ritonovir (evening).
I also take ZOCOn 150 (1 tab in a weak) and sepmax (one tab afternoon).
My TB medicine is: (1) Ributin150 1 tab alternate day before breakfast; (2) Wysolone 20 after bf for 15 days; (3) Benadon (half tab after bf); (4) pyrazinamide (750 2 tab after lunch); (5) Combutol (1000 1 tab after dinner).
My question is, along with ART medicine, is this combination good for me or is it going to harm me? Please let me know.
Answer
Thank you for your question
I appreciate that it must be difficult for you having to take so many meds at the moment. This will only be for a short time though until the TB is treated.
The TB meds you are taking are recommended for TB. It will therefore not harm you as it is meant to cure the TB. The meds are also routinely prescribed even for people taking HIV meds (called ART), as is your case.
One of your meds, the Wysolone, is or treating breathing difficulties, which is one of the things you mentioned in your email.
Although the TB drugs can be tough and have some side effects, you will only need to take them for about 6 to 12 months, depending on the combination. This is the standard for first line regimen which you are on. It is therefore really important that you take thee meds carefully. This means taking them as prescribed by your doctor.
Missing TB meds can cause drug resistance and even MDR TB (multidrug resistant TB). Treatment for MDR TB is longer and has much nastier side effects, so it is best to adhere to your first line regimen in order to cure the TB and ensure that you don’t develop MDR TB. If you have just started taking the TB meds, you should start to feel better within in 2-3 weeks.
Good luck with completing the remaining meds.
Best wishes.
Further info
TB and HIV coinfection (from the i-Base training manual)
https://i-base.info/ttfa/5-ois-and-coinfections/7-tuberculosis-tb
UK (BHIVA) guidelines on HIV and TB coinfection.
https://www.bhiva.org/TB-guidelines
Hi Winny.
Please see a health care professional about the lump. Though very rare it could be due to the ARVs. However, it could also be due to a lot of other things.
Hi am diagnose with tb meds and arv. Am I safe coz am developing a lump on my neck.pls help
Hi Albert,
It’s fine to take TB pills when your are already taking ARVs. But you can talk to your doctor and find out how long you’ll need to take the TB treatment.
Is it safe to take ARV’S the same time with the TB Pills?
Hi Lwandle,
Its common to give TB meds to someone who is positive if they live in a TB prone area. If your sister is feeling dizzy she will need to talk to a healthcare professional about this.
hi my sister is taking treatment ARV and last month they gave her TB medication but she was not diagnosed with TB now she is always feeling dizziness and she is weak what can she do
Hi Shawn,
Its perfectly fine to take TB meds whilst also on ARVs. And is common for many people. Has your partner started medication for either the TB or HIV yet? If he hasn’t when is he due to start?
Good day my partner has recently been diagnosed with mdr tb we are both hiv + however he’s cd count is under 200 and his viral load is above 66000 I’m just worried what the tb treatment will do to him
Hi Joy, I’m sorry to hear about your TB diagnosis. But do you mean multi-drug resistant TB? Treating HIV and TB can be complex. Treatment decisions need to take into account if TB is active or not, and also if you have a low CD4 count. Can you ask your doctor to explain how they are going to treat you, and with what drugs, and how long the TB treatment will last? Understanding how the treatment will work can help you get better quickly. It’s important your doctor gives you this information.
I’m a HIV patient and discover a month ago DAT I have MDT tb but my doctor said I should stop taking my arvs drug and go for abacair which is not available can I still continue with d arvs